Nnamdi Kanu: Why Justice Binta Nyako Must Step Aside – Deji Adeyanju
Political activist, Prince Deji Adeyanju, has asked Justice Binta Nyako to step down from the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Recall that the pro-Biafra activist was reportedly rearrested in Kenya and extradited back to Nigeria on the 27th of June, 2021.
The secessionist was then arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako who ordered his remand in the custody of the DSS until his next trial date which is July 26 and 27.
Kanu, who is facing an 11-count charge of treason, treasonable felony, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms, among others, jumped bail in 2017 and left the country, only to re-emerge in Israel and then in the United Kingdom.
In a post on his Twitter handle, Adeyanju accused Justice Nyako of not being neutral enough to handle Kanu’s trial.
Nigerians React To Arrest Of IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu By Buhari’s Government
Mixed reactions have trailed the arrest and retrial of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu by the Nigerian Government.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, informed journalists that Kanu was arrested and brought to Nigeria without disclosing details of where he was arrested.
He said the arrest followed a collaborative effort between security agencies in Nigeria and Interpol.
Malami further disclosed that Kanu would be taken before the Federal High Court in Abuja for the continuation of his trial on charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms, and management of an unlawful society.
But Nigerians on social media have kicked against Kanu’s arrest, noting that there are more serious security threats that should be tackled.
Many noted that banditry and terrorism remained the order of the day in the North, without any tangible effort by the government to arrest the leaders of the gangs of bandits wreaking havoc.
Nnamdi Kanu’s release will reverse bigotry allegation against Buhari
Eastern Intelligentsia Coalition (EIC) has said that releasing the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, unconditionally will reverse allegations of ethnic and religious bigotry levelled against the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.
In a statement released in Enugu yesterday, the group also stated that a return to peace in the country was possible, should the Federal Government shore up the trust deficit it created since 2015 by releasing all political prisoners, especially Igbo youths, profiled as terrorists, and being meted with the worst treatments, tortured in various detention centres or even killed extra-judicially.
The statement was signed by Patron of the group, Prof. Obasi Igwe; the Chairman, Okey Onuakalusi; and Secretary, Dr. Kenneth Nwankwo.
According to the group, since 2015, Nigeria entered “the era of redefinitions”, as being described by many, stressing that within the period, an impression had been created that policies and actions of the Federal Government were targeted against a section of the country, thereby denying them a future in their own land.
It said: “The spectacle of Kanu in chains, hands and feet, seemingly denied sleep after endless gruelling interrogations and forced confessions – while Miyetti Allah and other gun-totting terrorists like the Unknown Gunmen in Eastern Nigeria, operate virtually freely – does not speak well of the country. This is not a worthy legacy to posterity.”
Justifying the call for his unconditional release, it stated: “Given that by ethnic association, the Igbo have nearly become synonymous with IPOB, the trial of the group will be a trial of the Igbo nation by your government. Can a Federal Government already being accused of sectionalism afford to create an enduring bitterness between one section of the country and another that it seemingly favours?
“Although clothed in legal jargons, extradition is essentially a political act, and implementable only by mutual consent of the two countries involved. Nnamdi Kanu is a British citizen. This raises the question: was the consent of the British sought before his forcible repatriation to Nigeria, or was he merely kidnapped and drugged against his will in Kenya or elsewhere, and forced back to Nigeria?”
The coalition urged the Federal Government to end the influx of foreign belligerents into Nigeria as well as immediate disarming of the AK-47-wielding terrorists in the nooks and crannies of the Middle Belt and southern states.
Release Nnamdi Kanu immediately – US-based Nigerian tells Buhari
Similarly, US-based Nigerian, HRH Prince Ugoeze Elendu Uwakwe Okoronkwo has declared that there must be a serious dialogue among all the ethnic nationalities to address the myriads of challenges facing the country, especially the Biafra agitation.
He cautioned the Buhari government against the use of force to stop ethnic nationalities from agitating for secession.
Uwakwe stated this in a statement signed by him on Thursday.
He also said it had reviewed how Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, was abducted in a foreign land and detained by the Nigerian government, calling for his unconditional release.
Uwakwe who is the President of KCIGlobal.org urged the government to allow Nigerians to decide if they want to remain as one and focus on addressing massive insecurity, unemployment, hunger, poverty and other challenges through a referendum.
“We need a serious dialogue among all the ethnic nationalities for Nigeria to continue its existence,” it said.
“His [Nnamdi Kanu] further detention is unacceptable. President Buhari should release him without further delay.
“The abduction of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu cannot silence or end the agitation, as the root cause for agitation remains unattended, that is, allowing the Nigerian people to decide their fate or live in freedom.”
He decried that the Igbo had continued to suffer the aftermath of the 1967-1970 civil war, calling on all well-meaning Igbo sons and daughters to support Nnamdi Kanu in his bid to ensure that the dignity, progress and unity of the Igbos is restored.
He said: “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should be respected by every true son of Igbo who has conscience. Kanu is man enough because while everyone of the prominent men and women of repute at home and in diaspora have continued to shy away from the truth out of cowardice or personal gains, he has remained the only fearless man staring tyranny in the face and speaking the truth no matter the consequences.”
He advised President Muhammadu Buhari to focus on menacing and more dangerous Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen and bandits terrorizing the North and leave Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other agitators alone.
“The current situation whereby Southern Nigerians agitating for a free homeland are killed, arrested and detained, while cattle herdsmen/Miyetti Allah that kill our people and rape our women are protected can no longer be tolerated,” he said.
